Spark-intensifier terminal



- Jan. 29, 1929.

C. D." ANDERSON SPARK INTENSIFIER TERMINAL Filed March 5. 1 921 Patented Jan. 29,1929- UNITED STATES CHARLES D. ANDERSON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPARK-INTENSIFIER TERMINAL.

Application filed March 5, 1921. Serial No. 449,973.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as spark intensiliers, and relates particularly to an intensifier that may be used as an auxiliary terminal device in connection with sparking devices such as spark plugs or the like. The invention has among its objects the production of a construction of the kind described that is simple, durable,

dependable, convenient, inexpensive, com' pact, eliicient, pleasing and attractive in appearance and satisfactory for luse wherever found applicable. The invention has among its further objects the production of a de vice which may be rigidly assembled wherein there will be no shifting or variation in the relationship of the parts, and which will be gas tight and free from any short-circuiting. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken substantiat ly on line 1 1 of Fig. 2, showing my device as applied to a spark plug;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, /l and 5 are sectional views similar to Fig. 1, showing modifications of my invention;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of another embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. i n

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the device consists substantially of what may be termed a base element, a dielectric element. a top element and a retaining clement. Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the top and base elements or electrodes which are ar anged in alignment with an air gap between the same. In the air gap is arranged the dielectric element or spacer member 3, preferably of mica, bakelite, glass, porcelain or the like and of the desired size,

` which said member in the preferred construction is provided with one or more apertures or passages therethrough, and also with a central aperture or passage 5. The opposed end faces ofthe top and base terminals are adapted and formed to abut the opposed faces of the member 3, which spaces and prevents movement of the parts 1 and 2 toward each other. Ordi narily I prefer to make the member 3 approximately .O15 to .090 inch thick, depending upon the use intended, and I have found that the apertures may be omitted if desired in some instances, particularly when the member 3 is not too thick.

The base element 1, which is `preferably made of brass or other suitable electrical current-conducting material, has an upper flange 6 which is preferably of non-circular shape, such as square, rectangular or the like, or said flange may be milled, knurled or punched, or have proJections thereon to suitably roughen 1t. Adjacent the flange is an annular groove or channel 7, the flange 6 forming one side of the groove, the other side wall being formed by a flange 8. In order to decrease the amount of material and reduce the weight of the base terminal, Ihave grooved or cut away an annular channel 9 between the flange 8 and the bottom which constitutes a base flange 10. The said flange 10 is preferably polygonal in shape, so it may be turned with a wrench, pair of pliers or other suitable tool. If desired, a threaded hole may be provided partially or entirely through the base terminal and axially thereof, which said threaded hole is adapted to engage the cooperating threaded electrode of the electric device to which it is to be adapted, as for instance to the spark plug terminal shown in Fig. 1.

The upper or top electrode 2, also preferably made of brass or other good conducting material, has a lower flange 12 and an annular groove 13 and a retaining ange 14 similar in shape and size to the portions 6, 7 and 8 respectively of the base electrode, ther being also a groove or recess 15 above the retaining flange 'for receiving` and holding wire clip terminals as commonly used in ignition systems, and said upper terminal may also bc provided with an axially threadedbore 16 adapted to receive a terminal screw 17 therein, so that a conductor 18 may be positioned or secured between the terminal screw and the outer faceof the top terminal. If the terminal wire 18 is connected to the top terminal and the base terminal to the spark plug, the spark will jump through the apertures 4t and 5 of the intermediate spacing member 3. l

In order to hold the terminal and interme1 diate mcniberiu their predetermined relatii ship, as well as inclose the spark gap cha so that there can be no possibility ot toieigii matter entering the cl'iani'ber, l provide the outer. binder or retainingmember which l have hereinbet'ore re'terred to the retaining,` element, which is made et balfelite, glass,

porcelain or other suitable insulating,` material. Tihe retaining member or element may be molded, shrunk, comigiressed or otherwise suitably secured about the three members so as to hold them rigidly too'ether, whereby the parts constitute substantially a unitary structure. fis shown, the menibor 15) has inturned end flanges 20 closelv itting into the grooves 7 and l?) ot' the tern'iinals. lnasn'mch as the flanges 8 and 1 2 et the oppor-ted term`- are non-circular in shape, or others/Lee constructed as described, there is no tendencylv otI the parte to turn or rotate in the retainingl memlz'er. T he device when it is thus assembled forms a complete .eelt contained unit, which may be used as a terminal on a spark coil, magneto, lightning` arrester, generator, spark plug, or as a` terminal on any other electrica-l' device et a similar nature to which it is appi'eable. 4

ln 3,- have illmitrated a similar intensitier or terminal wherein the base member has an externallf,7 formed threaded stem extending axially therefrom, the remainder et the construction beingsubstantially similar to that previouslyv described. lin 4l, l have illustrated device provided with an upper or top terniinal having a stem extension 2Q, which may be threaded or not, as desiret-l', andthe upper terminal is also piovided with a thi .Y ded bore 28 extending` axially therethrouun and in registry with the bore l1 ot the base terminal. it' so desired, the modi'tication. shown. in li" 4 ma@T be used as ordinary terminal iny ad ot a spark intensitier. ln that case the electrode terminal ot the electrical device to which it is connected would extend through and engragie both the upper and lower terminals at their bores ll and Q8, and the terminal parts then being iu direct electrical contact there will be no spark jump throne i the air gap spaces provided in the spacin j member. p

Figi'. 5 illust-rates an embodiment sin'iilar to that shown in litit1 1]-, except that the bore 23 has been omitted. The various types ot connections are provided on or tor dilerent terms of electrical devices. It will be obvious from the preceding that the various terminals may be assembled or interchanged to `.give different combination et devices.

`With the construction herein described, one or more of the terminal parts mav' be associated together in a common retaining" elenent, the number so associated depending upon the number required tor am7 certain device or ignition system.. I have illustrated in Figs. 6 and T how the several terminals .al ends,

may be applied to a panel, plate, disk, cover,

yor any other regiilar or irregular body 2G,

preferably made ot insulating material, which he molded, punched, compressed or otherwise formed to suitably carry the terand maintain them in their c ed relationship with each other. 'il have irated both terminal parts entirely inihedded in the insulating` material but it may be readily understood that the several parts may project about the surface ont the body part or retaining` element, it so desired. Such application is particularly suitable tor electrical devices such as magnet-os, timers, distr alters, induction coils, c: z ers and rt-nei p est e ont of etticiency in tu duty and puilpose for which' the device signed.

From the preceding; it will be seen that I have produced a spark intensifier terminal which extremely riad` durable, attractive in appearance, which occupies very little more space than' the oijdimiry terminal and one in which the spark gap maintained constant and unshii'f b, sov that there will be no leakage of power, the saine as betere stated, may be used as an ordinary termii'ral element, the spark jump being eliminated, if so desired. 0bviouslv, where the retaining element is made of substance which is transparent, as tor example glass, bakelite', or the like, the spark may be observed, so that it may be seen whether or not the conibustion engine is receiving the proper spark to ignite the charge.

l have hereinbetore' referred to the spacer or Washer Sas a separate element which maj,7 be inserted between the parts and which may or' may not be provided with apertures. It might be noted, however, that the device may be constructed by' assembling' thel electrode elements and lea-ving a space between the same so that when the retaining member is formed, poured, molded or' pressed around the upper and lower electrodes the material so used will flow or be forced between the upper and lower parts in the space between' them therebyv forming a distance spacer which is integral with the outer casing or retainer. l therefore wish to be understood in the claims, that the means in the space tor spacing' the terminals may or may not be integral with the retaining element, this dependingA upon the preference ot the manufacturer andv also in some cases upon the materials which may enter into the construction ot' the device.

Having thus describe-d my invention, it is obviousv that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing' from the spirit ofiny invention hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, arrangement, construction and combination of parts herein shown and described', or uses mentioned.

l Uil IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a sparking device of the kind described, the combination of a pair of electrode .terminals having` an air gap therebetween, an

against said spacer and form a rigid structure.

3. In a device of the kind described, a pair of axially aligned terminals having peripheral grooves thereon, an apertured insulating spacing disc therebetween, and an insulating retainer formed about said terminals and extending into said peripheral grooves to clamp the opposed end faces of said terminals against said spacer and form an assembled structure.

4. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a pair of opposed terminals having an air gap therebetween, and a retaining member for locking said parts in their assembled relation, said terminals being apertured and having a registering aperture therebetween wherein the projecting electrode of a cooperating electrical device may be inserted an adjustable distance through said registering apertures.

5. In a device of the kind describedand in combination, a pair of opposed terminals having an air gap therebetween, an apertured insulating member between said rterminal and contacting with the opposed end faces thereof, and a retaining member for holding said parts in their assembled relation, said terminals having a registering vaperture therebetween wherein an electrode member of a cooperating device may be inserted to conneet said terminal parts together.

6. In a spark intensifier of the' kind described, a pair of axially aligned terminals having peripheral grooves thereon, an apertured spacing member between the opposed ends of said terminals, and a transparent insulating retainer fitting about said terminals and extending into said grooves to bind said terminals against said spacer and form a rigid structure.

7. In a device of the kind described, a plurality of pairs of axially aligned terminals, each terminal having a groove thereon, an apertured spacing member between the opposed end of each pair of terminals, and an integral insulating plate having a continuous surface fitting about all of said terminals and projecting into said peripheral grooves to clamp and bind the terminals against said spacing member.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a plurality of pairs of electrode terminals having air gaps therebetween, an apertured disc between the terminals of each pair thereof for accurately spac ing them, and a single separately formed integral means encompassing said terminals and inter-engaging with them to hold them in assembled relation with each other and the apertured means.

9. In a device of the class described, a pair of axially aligned terminals having peripheral grooves thereon, an apertured insulating disc therebetween, and a single insulating retainer having a continuous surface formed about said terminals and extending into said peripheral grooves to clamp the opposed end faces of said terminals against said disc and to form an assembled structure.

l0. In a device of the class described, a pair of axially aligned terminals having pe ripheral grooves thereon and an apertured spacing disc between the opposed ends of said terminals, and a transparent insulating retainer fitting about said terminals and extending into said grooves to bind said terminals against said disc and to form a rigid structure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CHARLES D. ANDERSON. 

